Medium Comfortable Womens Clothing

This cozy merino wool sweater is a virtual sampler of Irish Aran knitting patterns. Each pattern symbolizes an aspect of local fishing culture: Celtic rope for Irish pride; fisherman's cable for safety on the waters; basket stitch for a plentiful catch; and diamond, the shape of a fishing net, for success. The warm wool is renowned for its extremely soft hand, providing warmth and comfort without the itch of lower-quality fibers.

For hundreds of years, women in the rural villages of the Aran Islands off the western coast of Ireland have knit natural wool sweaters for their fisherman kin. Although the myth that you can identify island families by the stiches in their sweaterlike a Scottish tartanisn't true, every knitter does have her own special patterns, passed down through generations of mothers and grandmothers. At weekly gatherings, they continually invented intricate new stitches.

The quilting method called "trapunto" that accents this lightweight jacket is found in the traditional garments worn by the Gurung tribe in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. In trapunto, originally an Italian technique, the design is sewn into two layers of fabric, and then raised shapes are created by inserting stuffing through slits or spaces in the weave of the backing fabric. It was popular in the U.S. through the Civil War, but few designers today take the time to work the technique by hand.

Since the National Geographic Society's earliest days, explorers have relied on classic safari jackets like this one. Functional and durable, it has been updated for women in cotton blend khaki with a contoured fit. Features a zippered interior pocket and four exterior patch pockets to keep all of your small essentials neatly at hand. Extremely lightweight, easily packable cotton/nylon blend. Fully lined. Imported.

Embroidered pink blossoms inspired by the Kumaon Himalaya iris grace this luxuriously soft ivory cardigan. In the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, the flower is known as kombirei, and is used in offerings during the new-year festival of Cheiraoba. Silk blend with nylon, cotton, and spandex to help keep its shape over seasons of travel.

In a contemporary twist on traditional Irish Aran knitting, our natural ivory cardigan has an asymmetrical wrap style with a single button that creates a cowl-like neck. The textured wool sweaters of the Aran Islands have become a worldwide symbol of Irish culture. The patchwork of different stitches speaks to the ingenuity of generations of knitters.

Textile arts flourish in the rural villages of western India’s Thar Desert: Wide swaths of hand-block-printed fabrics are laid in the sun to dry. Women in Rajasthan create multicolored fabric mosaics using embroidery and appliqué. And artisans throughout the desert region practice bandhani, a deceptively simple tie-dyeing technique. Intricate patterns are created by wrapping the fabric with string before dyeing it. Bandhani cloth is often used for women’s shawls, but here the technique is adapted for a silky collection of travel-ready garments that drape beautifully and multiply your travel wardrobe.

This symmetrical floral pattern is inspired by garments worn by the women of the Ayoreo tribe in Bolivia's Amazon basin. Honoring their textile traditions, only the natural and dark alpaca colors in this pattern are knitthe blue highlights are hand-embroidered after the garment is shaped. Full zip front.

The Punjab region in northern India is brimming with highly creative artisans who make everything from ornate jewelry to detailed needlework bedding and fabric. This classic tunic represents those decorative arts with subtle tone-on-tone embroidery trimming the neck and cuffs and accented by a scattering of beads across the body and tiny bell buttons at the neckline. This embroidered tunic evolved from a typical Punjabi garment called a kameez, a loose cotton shirt with an airy quality to keep you cool. Made in India.

Our breezy cotton voile tunic is inspired by the indigo-painted rooftops found in Jodhpur, India, near the Mehrangarh Fort. The collar, hem, and cuffs are decorated with delicate, hand-embroidered floral patterns. The style is known in India as a kurta, and features a split V-neck and 3/4-length sleeves.

Vibrant patches of silk sari fabric are assembled in this one-of-a-kind, reversible jacket. Crafted in Gujarat, in western India, where a double-ikat style of weaving called patola is a specialty of local artisans. The jacket’s shaping comes from a layer of lightweight quilting. Sari patches will vary; reverses to solid red.

The Guaraní people are an indigenous cultural group who live in Paraguay and parts of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Bolivia. Before European contact, the seminomadic culture didn’t have a written language. The pattern on this lightweight alpaca cardigan is taken from a pictogram for water found on textiles in the Guaraní Museum of Bolivia. The 3/4-sleeve design features a hand-crocheted border and resin buttons.

Aran knitting is well known for its wealth of intricate stitches and symbolism. In this flattering sweater jacket, the diamond stitch represents prosperity, and the cable stitch stands in for the fishing rope that was so essential to livelihood on the Aran Islands. Knit from 100% worsted wool in moss green, with a button closure at the neck.

The quilting method called ''trapunto,'' which accents this lightweight jacket, is found in the traditional garments worn in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Handmade from breathable 100% cotton, this colorful, cultural travel jacket features hidden zippered pockets that offer a secure place to stash valuables. With a collarless cut, front patch pockets, and carved horn buttons, it is a beautiful way to carry the culture of the world with you on your travels. Handmade by artisans in Nepal.

The Museo Amano in Lima, Peru, is home to lovely textiles by the pre-Columbian Chancay culture. A 3,000-year-old woven-gauze Chancay head cloth was the inspiration for this supersoft 100% baby alpaca cardigan. The delicate lacy knit features slightly flared sleeves and mother-of-pearl buttons. Hip length.

Geometric pottery made by the Zuni people, as well as prized Navajo blankets, serve as inspiration for the Utah-based designer of this wool blend wrap coat. Lightweight and unlined, it's the perfect outer layer for cool days, in desert hues of turquoise, red, and orange. Single button in the center with a self-belt.

Artisans working in Kathmandu, Nepal, use a traditional quilting technique called "trapunto" to add the detailing at the shoulders and yoke of this jacket. In trapunto, decorative patterns are sewn with lightweight batting to add texture without bulk. The artisans who make this jacket create the pattern freehand as they guide the garment through a treadle-operated sewing machine. Light enough to wear as a shirt or a jacket, it multiplies your travel wardrobe and helps you pack light. Hip length, with side welt pockets, turn-back cuffs, flattering princess seams, and an adjustable tie back.

PreCip rainwear by Marmot offers reliable rain protection for backcountry and urban travelers alike. Both waterproof and breathable, with underarm zips for maximum ventilation, it's perfect for all temperatures and is made to accommodate a fleece or warm base layers underneath. Other weather-resistant features include a full roll-up hood that tucks into the collar when not in use plus a double storm flap with Velcro closure over the zipper. Specially designed sleeves allow a full range of arm motion so your jacket won't ride up and leave your torso exposed when lifting a backpack or grocery bags.

In the early 1900s, Mahatma Gandhi championed a homegrown Indian textile industry as a means of national self-sufficiency. By the 1960s, Indian motifs and textile traditions were inspiring designers around the world. This comfortable tunic combines a classic Indian style with bold floral graphics. Semisheer cotton with a split V-neckline and side vents.

The “four o’clock flower” is a type of mirabilis, known for blooming late in the day. It originated in tropical South America, but today this hardy bloom is found everywhere from Pakistan to China to the midwestern U.S. prairies. These bright flowers were the inspiration for our black toreador-style flyaway cardigan.

Textile arts flourish in the rural villages of western India’s Thar Desert: Wide swaths of hand-block-printed fabrics are laid in the sun to dry. Women in Rajasthan create multicolored fabric mosaics using embroidery and appliqué. And artisans throughout the desert region practice bandhani, a deceptively simple tie-dyeing technique. Intricate patterns are created by wrapping the fabric with string before dyeing it. Bandhani cloth is often used for women’s shawls, but here the technique is adapted for a silky collection of travel-ready garments that drape beautifully and multiply your travel wardrobe.

Throughout India, embroidery and needlework are highly developed local folk arts. In the region of Kashmir, however, needlework is the domain of highly skilled royal craftspeople. Worked in flat chain stitch, embroidery flows like brushstrokes across this distinctive cotton canvas jacket. The cut is an updated and relaxed version of the popular Nehru style. Fully lined. Made in India.

Indian textile traditions date back more than four millennia. Here, artisans carefully screen-print lengths of cotton with a floral pattern. The cloth is dried in the Jodhpur sun before being transformed into this lightly quilted jacket. Hand-dyed and hand-printed in India in the rich turquoise and blue hues of the peacock, the country’s national bird. Button front. Reverses to solid blue (no pockets on the blue side).

The South American Alstroemeria is a genus of brightly colored flowers known as the lily of the Incas. Popular in floral arrangements, the 120-some members of the Alstroemeria family have an interesting trait in that their leaves are upside-downthat is, they twist so that what we see as the top of the leaf is actually the leaf’s underside.

Our breezy white gauze tunic, an update of a classic style from the Indian state of Orissa, is comfortable enough for a full day of sightseeing and also dresses up for evening. The flowing crinkly texture and light weight make this flattering blouse an easy choice for warm-weather travel. The paisley appliqué and embroidery is called kairi, or mango, after the shape of that fruitan Indian symbol of life and sustenance. 3/4-length sleeves.

The lacy teardrop shape known as paisley originated in Persia and came to be closely associated with the work of Indian Kashmiri weavers. As trade between Asia and Europe expanded in the 18th century, demand for the pattern was so great that weavers in the town of Paisley, Scotland, created their own version of the design, giving the pattern its Western name. Incorporating these curved and leaflike paisley shapes, our jacket is handcrafted of 100% silk. Artisans working in India embellish each jacket by hand with embroidery and beadwork, guaranteeing that no two will be exactly alike. Fully lined.

La Compañía church in Cusco, Peru, is one of the most breathtaking examples of colonial baroque architecture in the Americas, and its ornate facade was the inspiration for the fuchsia and magenta patterns on our pima cotton cardigan. The light weave makes it a perfect piece for transitional weather and travel. 100% pima cotton with mother-of-pearl buttons. Hand-loomed in Peru.

Eighteenth-century churches dot the region of Chiquitos in Bolivia's eastern rain savanna, and motifs found on furniture and paintings at San Jose de Chiquitos were the inspiration for this superfine alpaca sweater. The blend of 15 colors is reminiscent of local stained glass and wrought ironwork.

Intricately hand-tie-dyed textiles (called bandhani or bandhej) are a specialty of Gujarat in western India. Fabrics are pinched, pulled, and wrapped with thread before being dyed, creating patterns where the thread resists the color. Some of the best bandhani is found in Gujarat wedding saris. The vivid emerald and teal hues of this reversible, lightly quilted silk wrap jacket are the result of hours of dyeing to achieve the brightest possible colors. Please accept variations in the hand-dyed fabric.

Throughout India, Hindu festivals are accompanied by intricate rangolidesigns “painted” on the ground using rice, sand, even flower petals. These auspicious symbols are the inspiration for the embroidered designs on our black travel shirt. At the center of each medallion along the neckline is a small mirror, a traditional part of Diwali decorations in northwestern India. An ideal travel shirt, the soft knit resists wrinkles and drapes beautifully the moment it’s unpacked. Purple seams decorate the front and back.